Synanthesia UK LP 1st Press RCA Folk Psych Ultra RARE

	£		185
	$		245

Synanthesia – Self-Titled was issued in the UK in 1969 on RCA Victor SF 8058. This copy is a 1st and only pressing of this LP. It was to be the band’s one and only album and is one of the psychiest folk records you will ever hear. Unfortunately, RCA weren't interested enough to promote the band. Without RCA's backing and the lack of airplay on the radio, Synanthesia split and the threesome went their separate ways.

Synanthesia were a hybrid of The Incredible String Band, acid folk, Comus-esque darkness and jazz. These styles/genres combined to make for quite an original sound. Jim Frazer's sax and flute sounding somewhat like a cross between Keith Gemmell (Audience/ Stackridge), David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator) and Harold McNair (Donovan, et al). The closest sounding bands that can be referenced are probably Dr Strangely Strange and Jan Dukes de Grey.

Formed in London, England in 1968 by guitarist, Les Cook, Synanthesia were a trio with an 18 year old, ex-soul bassist, Dennis Holmes, who switched to guitar and vibes. The trio was completed by jazz sax and flautist, Jim Fraser. They performed in and around the London area and garnered interest from the newly formed Chrysalis record label. One of the venues that they would frequent was the infamous Three Tuns in Kent, home to David Bowie's Arts Lab. It is rumored that Synanthesia were briefly Bowie's backing band, before he recruited the Hype and, subsequently, Hull's Rats, who became the Spiders from Mars.

Synanthesia's only album has a unique sound, falling somewhere between Forest, Incredible String Band and Jan Dukes de Grey with a hint of Audience and Van Der Graaf Generator, the last two owing to Jim Fraser’s  sax and flute styles.

Tracks:

Side 1

1.    Minerva

2.    Peek Strangely And Worried Evening

3.    Morpheus

4.    Trafalgar Square

5.    Fates

6.    The Tale Of The Spider And The Fly

Side 2

1.    Vesta

2.    Rolling And Tumbling

3.    Mnemoysne

4.    Aurora

5.    Just As The Curtain Finally Falls

Band:

·       Dennis Homes: Vibes, guitar, vocals

·       Jim Fraser: Alto/soprano saxophone, oboe, alto/nose/concert flute

·       Les Cook: Guitar, bongos, violin, mandolin, vocals

Arrangements by James Fraser

Produced by Sandy Roberton for September Productions

Engineered by Victor Gamm

Single front laminated sleeve is in Very Good + condition with some creases to the laminate and slight lift in the laminate by the spine. The spine is a little creased but the text is fully legible. Tiny bumps to the corners but no edgewear to speak of. Very decent presentable condition.

Vinyl is terrific and is in a comfortable Excellent + condition – no audible issues. There are some faint spot stains on the labels.

I am not a dealer but a serious collector. All my records come from my private collection. Please read my ME page for details of my philosophy on descriptions and gradings. I absolutely guarantee my gradings as played through my system. All my records are cleaned on a Moth Mk II RCM and play-graded on a Rega Planar 3 turntable (MC cartridge) through an azur 840a amp into Matrix MX-1200 Reference speakers. Inferior component-type turntables without proper tracking are more prone to sticking and jumping than high-grade turntables. If you love vinyl, do yourself a favour and invest in a decent system if you don't already own one. You don't have to pay thousands. Excellent quality 2nd hand turntables are available on eBay for under £100 (about the price of 1 rare LP). Your investment will be more than rewarded by the additional listening pleasure you derive. BUT if, unexpectedly, you are unhappy for any reason, please get in touch.

Please see my other similar LPs for sale. Over the coming weeks and months I will be listing hundreds of classic prog, psych, folk and jazz LPs, including numerous Swirls and many other collectors' holy grails. Don't miss out - keep watching and bookmark me in your favourite sellers. Once they are gone, they are gone!!

Grading :

M = Mint - as new

NM = Near Mint - very few, light signs of usage that don’t affect play - the cover has only minor signs of wear.

EX = Excellent - some signs of usage, but very little lessening in sound quality – the cover might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VG = Very Good - no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch - normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

G = Good - the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches - the cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

+ and - are used as appropriate.

Payment

Payment is expected within 5 days of auction end. PAYPAL is welcomed and there are no charges for anyone. In the UK cheques or direct credit into my bank account (please ask for the account details) are also fine. For buyers in Euroland I am happy to accept transfers into my bank account in Austria (please ask for the account details).

Non-paying bidders will be reported to eBay.

Shipping Policy :

The records are taken out of the sleeve to avoid splitting - if not still sealed. They are sent in professional mailers with proper stiffeners for extra protection. A polythene sleeve is included in every case. 

Postage / Shipping Charges

UK

SECOND CLASS (My standard service for items below £34.00 in value)

1 LP                                £1.90

2 LPs                              £2.40

3 LPs                              £2.90

4 and more LPs will be sent as a STANDARD PARCEL. Please enquire before bidding and await invoice prior to payment.

BUT PLEASE NOTE: Automatic compensation cover is limited to a value of £34.00.

All packages with a value exceeding £34.00 will be sent SPECIAL DELIVERY NEXT DAY (unless the buyer expressly declines the service), the rates of which depend upon the value and weight of the goods, as follows:

Value not exceeding £500

1 LP                      =  £5.60

2 to 3 LPs             =  £7.60

4 to 6 LPs             =  £9.60

7 to 30 LPs           = £23.00

Value £501 to £1000

1 LP                      =  £6.50

2 to 3 LPs             =  £8.50

4 to 6 LPs             = £10.75

7 to 30 LPs           = £23.75

Value £1001 to £2500

1 LP                      =  £7.50

2 to 3 LPs             =  £9.50

4 to 6 LPs             = £11.75

7 to 30 LPs           = £24.75

OVERSEAS

Under no circumstances will I send items via Surface Mail. Standard Airmail to all parts of the world contains no compensation. Compensation up to a value of £34 is available via the AIRSURE or INTERNATIONAL SIGNED-FOR services for an additional fee of £4.50 whilst compensation up to £500 is available for an additional fee of £7.00.

Compensation for packages with a value from £501 to £2500 is also available via PARCELFORCE INTERNATIONAL DATAPOST, but is very expensive (e.g. a 2 kilo package to Japan with a value of £2500 would cost in excess of £110).

I offer you these services. If you decline to pay for compensation, the goods will be shipped Standard Airmail AT YOUR OWN RISK. Standard Airmail charges are as follows:

Europe

1 LP                                =  £4.00

2 LPs                              =  £6.25

3 LPs                              =  £7.75

Add £1.50 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.

USA / Asia / Rest of the World

1 LP                                =  £6.25

2 LPs                              =  £9.25

3 LPs                              = £12.00

Add £3.00 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.